Far too often, researchers are misinformed about the role and the possibilities arising around patents and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). In this course we will teach you what IPR are - with a special focus on patents. Also this course will look at the importance of patents in the world of biotechnology - and what you actually can patent.
Should your research be protected? Can your research even be protected?
There are a lot of misunderstandings about patents, so first step is to know what patents really are and how they work. Then we will introduce how and when to apply for them. Also how to find existing patents is a crucial and necessary element to being able to assess whether your research should be protected or not.
The course will be divided in 7 sessions, and at the end of the course, you should be able to:
- describe the different types of IPR
- explain the conditions of patentability for an invention
- describe the various stages involved in a patent application
- search and retrieve patent information from databases
- read and understand a patent
- write claims related to biotechnology
- understand and explain the concept of Freedom To Operate
Course Materials:
You will need the following book as a reading material for the course:
“Patenting in Biotechnology, a laboratory manual” by Peter Ulvskov, which will be available from http://polyteknisk.dk/home/Detaljer/9788750211068
Also, you will need to get access from your home institution to these databases:
- Derwent Innovation Index (via Web of Science)
- SciFinder
NB:
This course is related to a 5 ECTS point course that is a mandatory requirement for access to the BioBusiness and Innovation Platform (BBIP) program at the Copenhagen Business School. NOTE: this Coursera course will NOT be sufficient for attending the BBIP program but successful completion of this course (with a Course Certificate) will be a plus for applying to the BBIP.
To obtain the 5 ECTS points, you will have to enrol as a DTU Student, participate on a hands-on workshop on patent databases and pass an exam in presence of an external Censor. For more information, please email me at:
fdemasi@cbs.dtu.dk
Link for BBIP: (http://www.cbs.dk/viden-samfundet/strategiske-indsatsomrader/biobusiness-and-innovation-platform-bbip)

From the lesson

Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights

An introduction to the important subjects within the field of patenting, such as novelty and “person skilled in the art”.
By Federico De Masi